I am very new to the bonsai world, I only have one bonsai, a 14 year old crabapple which I have only had for a few months. But I just recently received a young waterfall japanese maple and I would really like to train it as a bonsai. I dont know how old it is but the whole tree from top to bottom of the trunk is still green. My question/ problem is that this tree is already 3 1/2 feet tall with some of the branches stretching to almost 2 feet and I would really like to keep it somewhat smaller. Should I cut this tree in a half? Both the lead from the trunk and the branches? I am afraid of hurting the tree. Doing this would take almost all of the leaves that are sprouting on the tree. Also if I do cut it is this something I should be thinking of doing soon or is this a project for later in the year?